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Item 10c <br />Review of the Association of Bay Area Government's (ABAG) draft recommended revisions <br />to the State Constitution. (SR 94:318) <br /> <br />Chris Sherwood presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tarver objected to changing the 2/3 requirement for state taxes, except by a vote of <br />the people. He believed Council and the League needed to be more proactive. He did not <br />believe the current recommendations were of substance. It appears that many recommendations <br />are trying to change things that have been voted in by the people. The real issue is how to make <br />government more efficient and change the way it operates, making it more accountable. If <br />government wants more money to deliver services, it should ask the voters to approve a library <br />tax, or school bond, or parcel tax. He felt there should be a realignment of services with the <br />direct connection for the revenue to pay for them. <br /> <br /> Ms. Acosta stated this process is on the way to accomplishing that. This report indicates <br />all the items need to be considered together, not separately. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tarver did not agree with the commission of finance officers which was proposed. <br />He felt another kind of committee composed of all agencies delivering services get together and <br />decide who delivers what service and how it will be paid for and that no one can take revenue <br />from another. <br /> <br /> Ms. Dennis expressed concern about undoing the Marine Resources Act and other voter <br />approved initiatives. This proposal recommends that should be done by statute, but is there a <br />guarantee that it will auWmatically go into the statutes? She was also concerned that too many <br />were being considered at once. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pico was also upset about the recommendations to eliminate controls on state <br />government that were put in place by a vote of the people. He felt these recommendations <br />allowed the government to raise more taxes. <br /> <br /> Ms. Scribner indicated something needs to be sent to ABAG regarding the format that <br />is currently being presented. If Council wants a broader statement saying the recommendations <br />are off track, then that can be sent later. <br /> <br /> Council expressed strong suppert that the state legislators be subject to the Brown Act <br />and that there be some discussion about services and revenues. Counc'fi would like to have this <br />on a future agenda to discuss the recommendations point by point. <br /> <br /> Ms. Dennis requested more information on the removal of some of the Acts and what <br />guarantees there are that they will be adopted by statute. <br /> <br />09/20/94 <br /> - 18- <br /> <br /> <br />